Comeback Complete: Brian Robinson Jr. Slated to Start for Commanders

Less than seven weeks after he was shot in a botched robbery, former Alabama running back is slated to make his first NFL start for Washington.

Christopher Walsh | Oct 13, 2022

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Less than seven weeks after former Alabama Crimson Tide running back Brian Robinson Jr. saw his bid to be the starting running back for the Washington Redskins almost tragically derailed, he'll finally get his chance.

According to Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo of the NFL Network, Robinson will be in the starting lineup for the Thursday night game at Chicago (Amazon Prime, 7:15 p.m,. CT).

Shortly after it appeared that Robinson would be the team's lead running back coming out of training camp, he was shot twice during a botched robbery on Aug. 28, once in the glute and once in the knee.

He returned to the team facility just two days after the incident, where he was warmly welcomed by teammates, and placed on the Reserve/Non-Football Injury list that meant he was out for at least four weeks.

However, after being medically cleared, he returned to practice last week and activated to play against former Crimson Tide standout Derrick Henry and the Tennessee Titans. Robinson was introduced last and given an emotional standing ovation from fans at FedEx Field,

The rookie came off the bench and finished with nine carries for 22 yards in the 21–17 loss. After his pro debut did a jersey swap with the former Heisman Trophy winner.

The 23-year-old from Tuscaloosa, where he attended Hillcrest High School, was selected in the third round of the 2022 NFL Draft. After being behind Najee Harris on the depth chart, he started last season for the Crimson Tide and tallied 1,343 rushing yards and 14 rushing touchdowns.

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Published Oct 13, 2022

CHRISTOPHER WALSH

Christopher Walsh is the founder and publisher of BamaCentral, which first published in 2018. He's covered the Crimson Tide since 2004, and is the author of 26 books including Decade of Dominance, 100 Things Crimson Tide Fans Should Know and Do Before They Die, Nick Saban vs. College Football, and Bama Dynasty: The Crimson Tide's Road to College Football Immortality. He's an eight-time honoree of Football Writers Association of America awards and three-time winner of the Herby Kirby Memorial Award, the Alabama Sports Writers Association’s highest writing honor for story of the year. In 2022, he was named one of the 50 Legends of the ASWA. Previous beats include the Green Bay Packers, Arizona Cardinals and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, along with Major League Baseball’s Arizona Diamondbacks. Originally from Minnesota and a graduate of the University of New Hampshire, he currently resides in Tuscaloosa.

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